H#?  J 

afM 

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LIBRARY 

^Ufological  ^cminaviu 

PR  IN  VETO  y.  N.  J 

No.  Case,®^:-v.?....i-i'- 

No.  Shelf,  :^—-:r4 -,-t.-.- 

No.  Book,  - 


-No, 


From  the  Rev.  W.  B.  SPRAGUE,  D.D.  Sept.  1839 


/Sproi^ue  Collection.  Voir 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/letterfrominlond00unse_1 


L E 

FRIEND  IN  AMERICA, 

ON  THE 

SUBJECT 

OF  THE 

SLAVE-TRADE; 

TOGETHER  WITH 

SOME  EXTRACTS, 
FromAPPROVED  AUTHORSor 
MATTERS  OP  FACT, 
Confirming  the  Principles  contained  in  faid  Letter. 


A , V 

T T E R 

FROM  ' ScP  ^ ‘ ^ 'I  W 

IN  LONDON, 

TO  HIS 


He  that  fiealeth  a Man^  and  felleth  him^  or  if  he  he  found  in  his 
handy  Jhallfurely  he  put  to  death.  Exodus  xxi.  i6. 

Therefore  all  things  <vohatfoen}er  ye  njoould  that  men  Jhould  do  to 
youy  do  ye  tmen  fo  to  them^  for  this  is  the  lanjo  and  the  prophets. 

Mat.  vii.  12. 


HE  W O R K: 

Printed  by  SAMUEL  LOUDON, 
No*  5,  IVater-Street*  m,dcc,lxxxiv. 


ADVERTISEMENT 


The  following  letter  was  written  in  the  year 
1776,  at  the  requeft  of  an  American  gentleman, 
who  defired  to  know  m^  fentimenrs  upon  theHavery 
of  the  Negroes,  and  profeffed  an  intention  of  reftoring 
all  his  own  to  liberty,  could  he  be  convinced  that 
duty  required  the  facrifice.  I therefore  fenthim  the 
following  effay,  the  impcrfedHons  of  which  may 
perhaps  befomething  extenuated  by  the  precipitati- 
on with  which  it  was  written.  It  has  lain  by  me 
many  years  in  obfeurity  ; nor  did  I choofe  to  pro- 
duce it  during  the  progrefs  of  the  American  contefl. 
Since  the  happy  termination  of  that  difadrous  war, 
I have  Ihewn  it  to  fome  of  my  particular  friends, 
who  have  honoured  me  fo  far  as  to  defire  copies,  and 
to  fuggefl  that  its  publication  might  not  be  unat- 
tended with  utility.  After  redeeming  upon  the  fub- 
jedt,  I have  chofen  to  comply  with  their  wiflies,  and 
prefent  this  fragment  to  the  public  ; becaufe,  what- 
ever diferedit  it  brings  upon  my  head,  it  may  con- 
tribute to  eftablilh  the*  lincerity  of  my  heart  : And 
if  a finglc  human  being  Ihould  by  my  means  be  re- 
ftored  to  happinefs,  it  is  an  ample  recompence  for 
all  the  dangers  I may  incur  as  an  author.  Should 
this  effay  ever  reach  America,  it  may  perhaps  dif- 
pleafe  thofe  who  have  not  learned  to  difeern  friends 
from  flatterers,  and  to  diftinguilli  between  the  lan- 
guage of  truth  and  calumny,  Thofe,  on  the  con- 
trary, who  are  enlightened  by  a more  exteniive  know- 
ledge 


4 J 

ledge  of  human  nature,  may  perhap§  refpedf  an 
Englilhman,  who,  after  daring  to  alTert  their  caufe, 
through  all  the  varied  events  of  the  late  revolution, 
dares  now  with  equal  intrepidity  affert  the  caufe  of 
truth  and  iuifice,  and  of  that  part  of  the  human 
fpecies  whole  wrongs  are  yet  unredrelTed,  and  almoft 
unpitied.  JShould  it  be  alked  why  I rather  publifh  a 
fragment  than  a complete  effay,  I can  only  anfwer, 
that  1 refpedl  truth  fo  much,  that  1 am  not  inclined 
to  violate  it  even  as  an  author  ; and  that  this  letter 
having  been  really  written  in  the  year  1776,  and 
being  Hill  in  the  poffeffion  of  the  gentleman  to  whom 
it  was  fent,  I do  not  choofe  to  piece  it  with  additi- 
ons in  the  year  1784. 

SIR, 

IW AS  extremely  furprifed  at  receiving  a letter, 
in  an  unknown  hand,  which  defired  me  to  give 
my  fentiments  relative  to  the  flavery  of  the  Negroes ; 
till  reading  to  the  end,  I recolleded  the  name  of  a 
gentleman,  whom  I had  the  pleafure  of  feeing  with 
Mr.  Laurens,  Much  as  I am  flattered  by  finding 
my  opinion  of  any  confequence  with  a gentleman  of 
whom  I have  heard  fo  advantageous  a charadter.  I 
am  ftill  more  furprifed,  that  he  can  afk  it  on  fuch  a 
queflion  ; a queftion  which  I am  fure  his  own  hu- 
manity and  good  fenfe  will  be  fufficient  to  decide,  if 
he  attends,  for  a moment,  to  their  didtates.  I ref- 
pedt  you,  fir,  too  much  to  doubt  the  fincerity  of 
the  declaration  you  make,  when  you  profefs  to  be 
guided  by  reafon  and  morality  upon  this  queflion  ; 
for  this  is  the  only  arbitration  which  any  man  can 
have  to  cdnfult  upon  a fubjedt  like  this  : Where 
they  are  filent,  the  voice  of  the  whole  world  ought 

to 


C 5 ] 

to  be  difregarded,  and  where  they  approve,  the  dif- 
fent  of  all  mankind  can  have  no  influence  upon  a 
mind  like  yours.— But  as  you  exprefsly  dcfire  to 
know  my  fentiments,  I mufl  wave  both  preface  and 
ceremony,  and  addrefs  you  with  the  modeft  freedom 
that  becomes  one  man  when  he  is  fpeaking  to  a- 
nother  upon  the  moft  important  queftion  in  the  uni- 
verfe.  As  a member  of  that  fociety  which  has  now 
made  a folemn  appeal  to  Heaven,  and  taken  up  arms 
againft  the  nation  to  which  it  owes  its  eflablifhment, 
you  mull  admit  that  there  are  fuch  things  as  right 
and  juftice,  to  which  the  whole  human  fpecies  have 
an  indefeafible  claim.  Indeed,  unlefs  there  be  fuch 
a thing  as  juftice,  it  is  in  vain  we  enquire  about  its 
precepts,  or  refer  to  its  arbitration.  He  that  ad- 
mits no  right  but  force,  no  juftice  but  fuperior  vio- 
lence, arms  every  man  againft  himfelf,  and  juftifies 
all  exceftes.  If  it  be  lawful  to  injure  becaufe  we 
can  ; if  we  may  feize  the  property  of  another,  in- 
fult  his  perfon,  or  force  him  to  labour  for  our  luxu- 
ry or  caprice,  merely  becaufe  he  is  weaker ; this 
principle  will  be  equally  fatal  to  ourfelves,  when  for- 
tune fhall  ftrip  us  of  that  power  which  is  our  only 
prerogative,  and  fhift  the  plea  of  fuperiority.  You 
are  to  remember  that,  upon  this  fuppolition,  your 
ftaves,  the  inftant  they  fhall  become  the  ftrongeft, 
will  have  a right  to  the  fervices  of  yourfelf  and  every 
other  gentleman  of  thefouthern  colonies;  will  have 
a right  to  force  you  to  labour  naked  in  the  fun  to 
the  mufic  of  whips  and  chains;  to  rob  you  of 
every  thing  which  is  now  dear  to  your  indolence,  or 
neceftary  to  your  pleafures  ; to  goad  you  to  every 
fpecies  of  fervile  drudgery,  and  punifh  you  for  their 
amufement  and  caprice  ; will  have  a right  to  exhauft 
your  youth  in  fervitude,  and  to  abandon  your  age  to 
wretchednefs  and  difeafes  : In  one  word,  fir,  they 

will 


C 6 ] 

will  have  a right  to  ufe  you,  as  you  do  them.  Let 
us,  therefore,  leave  principles  which  can  be  main- 
tained by  no  one  but  a profelled  enemy  to  mankind  ; 
who  would  at  oneftroke  extirpate  every  thing  which 
alleviates  the  evils  of  life,  and  arm  every  man  in  an 
eternal  waV  againft  his  fellow  creatures,  to  enquire 
what  are  the  real  dictates  of  that  juftice,  whofe  exift- 
ence,  I am  perfuaded,  we  both  allow.  Y ou,  there- 
fore, admit  there  are  certain  claims,  which,  for  want 
of  a better  name,  we  call  rights,  to  which  the  hu- 
man fpecies  has  an  indifputable  title.  To  exprels 
myfelf  in  other  words,  There  is  a method  of  pur- 
fuing  our  own  happinefs  in  luch  a manner,  that  we 
may  promote  the  general  good  at  the  fame  time  ; or, 
at  leafl  not  interfere  with  it,”  This,  our  reafon  af- 
fures  us,  is  the  privilege  of  every  created  being; 
and  while  he  confines  himfelf  within  thefe  bounds, 
we  feel  the  mod  cordial  approbation  of  his  condudt. 
We  love,  and  efieem,  and  lympathize  with  him, 
from  the  very  confiitution  of  our  nature.  On  the 
contrary,  whenever  any  one  difturbs  or  injures  a 
being  adfing  in  this  manner,  or  prevents  him  from 
attaining  the  good  to  which  he  is  impelled,  we  feel 
our  hatred  and  indignation  mod  forcibly  excited 
againd  the  aggreffor.  We  confider  fuch  a character 
as  armed  againd  the  v/elfare  of  the  world,  and  as 
one  who  is  endeavouring  to  make  the  common  good 
fubfervient  to  his  own  felfifhnefs.  I appeal  to  the 
generofity  of  your  own  nature,  for  the  exidence  of 
thefe  principles.  Have  they  not,  a thoufand  times, 
animated  you  toadts  of  virtue  and  humanity,  as  well 
as  infpired  you  with  an  involuntary  reverence  for  all 
who  adfed  from  their  impulfe  ? Have  they  not  often 
pleaded  the  caufe  of  the  wretch  that  lay  trembling 
and  defencelefs  at  your  feet,  and,  in  fpite  of  the  pre- 
judices of  your  country  and  education,  whifpered  to 

your 


C 7 ] 

your  mind  that  one  human  being  ought  not  to  hold 
his  exiftence  by  the  tenure  of  another’s  will  ? 

Do  nor  thefe  principles  now  infpire  you,  and  fre- 
quently impel  you  beyond  the  bounds  of  prudence 
and  fafety,  while  what  you  call  your  country’s  caufe 
animates  you  to  exertion  ? But  this  caufe  is  only 
the  united  caufe  and  intereft  of  every  particular 
man;  thofe  rights  which  the  Great  Creator  taught 
him  to  difcover  when  he  gave  him  reafon,  which  he 
urges  him  to  defend  by  paffion,  and  which  a mind 
like  yours  prizes  beyond  the  gratifications  of  fenfe, 
and  dares  to  grafp  at  even  while  it  is  perifh- 
ing.  This  appears  to  me  to  be  a plain  and 
concife  dedudfion  of  morality,  which  means  no- 
thing more  than  that  method  or  rule  of  condudt  by 
which  the  whole  human  fpecies  may  attain  the 
greateft  poffible  degree  of  happinefs.  And  I rather 
choofe  to  exprefs  myfelf  fo,  becaufe  I thus  compre- 
hend all  feds  and  opinions.  The  religious  man  al- 
lows that  the  happinefs  of  the  fpecies  is  the  great 
end  of  the  Deity,  which  he  promotes  by  the  rewards 
and  punifhments  of  a future  ftate:  The  difciple  of 
Shaftfbury  underflands  this,  when  he  talks  of  the 
beauty  of  virtue  and  the  love  of  order;  and  ven 
the  gloomy  pupil  of  Hobbes,  who  refolves  every 
thing  into  felf  intereft,  muft  allow  the  exiftence  of 
moral  diftindions,  fo  far  as  they  influence  the  wel- 
fare of  the  fpecies.  This  univerfal  morality  appears 
to  me  to  be  the  only  rational  and  legal  foundation 
of  all  human  government;  which  ought  to  be  no- 
thing more  than  the  application  of  this  general  rule 
to  particular  focieties,  and  the  enforcing  it  by  civil 
eftdblifhments.  If,  therefore,  it  be  granted,  that  the 
rights  of  a nation  are  nothing  more  than  the  rights 
of  every  man  in  it,  and  that  all  juft  and  legal  autho- 
rity fuppofes  a delegated  power  entrufted  (olely  for 

the 


C 8 ] 

the  purpofe  of  promoting  the  general  good;  it  will 
appear  evident  that  every  individual  in  the  univcrfe 
pofleflhs  certain  rights,  which  no  man  can  divefl 
him  of  without  injuftice,  unlefs  he  be  guilty  of  fame 
crime  againil  fociety  which  expofes  him  to  its  ven- 
geance. Hence  it  follows,  that  w^henever  any  na- 
tion attacks  the  rights  and  happinefs  of  another  na- 
tion, it  deferves  to  find  its  own  deftru6tion  in  the 
attempt;  and  whenever  any  individual  prefumes  to 
exercife  this  fpecies  of  authority  over  his  fellow  crea- 
tures, he  muft  be  a tyrant  and  an  opprefTor,  whom 
it  is  permitted  to  deftroy  by  every  poffible  method. 
Whoever  would  deny  this,  muft  either  deny  the  ex- 
iftence  of  right  and  juilice  entirely,  and  then  it  is  in 
vain  to  argue  ; or  muft  fliew  fome  natural  diftindtion 
by  which  one  part  of  the  fpecies  is  entitled  to  pri- 
vileges from  which  the  other  is  excluded.  The  firft 
fuppofidon  I have  already  confidered,  and  the  fecond 
is  altogether  abfurd  ; for  all  alterations  and  diftinc- 
tions  among  mankind  folely  arife  from  civil  govern- 
ment, which  has  no  other  juft  foundation  than  na- 
tural right ; and  natural  right,  for  that  reafon,  muft 
be  a principle  of  higher  authority  than  civil  govern- 
merj*.  Whenever,  therefore,  civil  government 
tends  to  deftroy  and  confound  the  rights  of  nature, 
it  ceafes  to  have  any  claim  to  cur  obedience;  it  be- 
comes tyranny,  corruption,  defpotifm,  a peft  inftead 
of  a blefling,  and  lubverfive  of  every  purpofe  for 
which  it  was  inftituted,  or  ought  to  be  continued. 

I am  extremely  fearful  of  exprefling  myfelf  ob- 
fcurely  upon  lb  abftradt  a fubjeft,  and  muft,  there- 
fore, though  with  the  hazard  of  prolixity,  attempt 
to  place  it  in  a different  light.-— If  you  imagine  any 
number  of  the  human  fpecies  aflembled  in  fome  par- 
ticular part  of  the  globe,  without  any  form  of  go- 
vernment eftablilhcd  among  them ; it  is  evident. 


C 9 J 

that  thefe  individuals  may  either  live  together  in 
fuch  a manner  as  to  produce  mutual  comfort  and 
affiflance,  or  may  be  the  caufe  of  continual  mifery 
to  each  other.  No  propofition  in  the  mathematics 
can  be  invettigated  with  more  precifion  than  the 
methods  of  condudt  which  have  thefe  contrary  ten- 
dencies. Every  difpofition  which  inclines  one  man 
to  aflift  another,  or  to  avoid  giving  him  offence  and 
doing  him  injury,  muft  neceffarily  contribute  to  the 
common  welfare ; which  would  be  perfed:,  were 
thefe  difpolitions  cultivated  in  the  greatcfl  poffiblc 
degree.  On  the  contrary,  every  difpofition,  which, 
cither  by  fraud  or  violence,  tends  to  interrupt  the 
perfonal  fecurity  of  individuals,  or  to  deprive  them 
of  thofe  things  which  they  have  acquired  by  their 
induftry,  is  detrimental  to  the  fum  of  happinefs,  and 
would,  if  carried  to  the  greateft  poflible  degree, 
entirely  deftroy  that  part  of  the  fpecies.—* -In  this 
view  of  things,  morality  arifes  from  neceffity,  and 
comprehends  ‘‘  certain  rules  of  condud  founded 
upon  the  relations  which  beings  endowed  with  par- 
ticular faculties  bear  to  each  other ; which  rules, 
when  properly  obferved,  produce  happinefs  to  fo- 
ciety ; but  when  violated  or  negleded,  as  neceffa- 
rily  occafion  mifery,  as  fire  or  pointed  fubftances 
excite  pain,  when  they  ad  too  forcibly  upon  the 
nerves,” 

I hardly  think  that  the  greatefl  fceptic  will  deny 
thefe  diflindions  founded  upon  fads  as  certain  a» 
the  impreflion  of  any  material  fubftance  upon  our 
fenfes.  If  wc,  now,  proceed  a little  farther,  we 
fhall  find  that  the  difpofitions  which  produce  thefe 
different  kinds  of  condud  are  by  the  moralifls  cx- 
preffed  by  different  names,  and  enforced  by  different 
motives,  according  to  their  feveral  fyftems  ; while 
Natural  religion  adds  its  fandions,  and  inclines  us 

B to 


C 10  3 

to  believe  that  the  Deity  himfelf,  who  has  cllfplayed 
lb  great  an  attention  to  the  happinefs  and  preferva- 
tion  ot  his  creatures  here,  may  extend  his  benevo- 
lence to  another  ftage  of  exigence,  and  compenlate 
the  evils  fometimes  unmeritedly  fuffered  below. 
But  if  we  admit  the  evidence  of  revealed  religion, 
the  fcheme  of  human  things  is  perfedf  as  it  is  au- 
guft  ; the  clouds  which  overfiiadowed  our  horizon 
are  diffipated,  and  the  gradual  progrcfs  of  trium- 
phant virtue^  through  dangers  and  difficulties,  to 
eternal  happinefs,  is  difplayed  and  afcertained. 

Having  laid  down  thefe  principles,  it  is  eafy  to 
apply  them  to  the  particular  cafe  in  queftion.  Sla- 
very is  the  abfolute  dependance  of  one  man  upon 
another ; and  is,  therefore,  as  inconfiflent  with  all 
ideas  of  juflice,  as  defpotifm  is  with  the  rights  of  na- 
ture. It  is  a crime  fo  monftrous  againft  the  hu- 
man fpecies,  that  all  thofe  who  pradfife  it  deferve  to 
be  extirpated  from  the  earth.  It  is  no  little  indiredl 
attack  upon  the  fafety  and  happinefs  of  our  fellow 
creatures,  but  one  that  boldly  ilrikes  at  the  founda- 
tions of  all  humanity  and  iuflice.  Robbers  invade 
the  property,  and  murderers  the  life  of  human  be- 
ings ; but  he  that  holds  another  man  in  bondage, 
fubjedts  the  whole  fumof  his  exiftenceto  oppreffion, 
bereaves  him  of  every  hope,  and  is,  therefore,  more 
deteftable  than  robber  and  alTaffin  combined.  But 
if  no  one  who  has  common  feeling  will  commit  the 
outrage,  no  one  who  has  common  fenfe  will  attempt 
to  juftify  it  by  argument;  fince  it  would  involve 
him  in  the  grolTeft  and  mofi  inextricable  contradic- 
tions. He  muft  allow  that  every  man  has,  by  na- 
ture, a right  to  life,  yet  that  every  other  man  has  a 
right  to  rob  him  of  it;  that  every  man  has  an  equal 
right  to  fubfiftence,  yet  that  every  other  may  deprive 
him  of  all  the  means ; and  that  while  every  indivi- 
dual 


[ ” 3 

dual  is  juftifiecl  by  nature  and  the  Deity  in  purfuing 
his  own  happineis  by  all  innocent  methods^  every 
other  individual  is  equally  juflified  in  making  him 
miferable.  In  fhoit,  it  is  reducing  every  thing  to 
the  ftate  before  defcribed,  a ftate  of  conteft  and  de- 
folation  from  which  right  and  juftice  are  equally  ex- 
cluded. 

Of  you,  lir,  who  fay  you  have  feveral  Haves,  I 
beg  leave  to  alk  wh^  are  the  rights  you  claim  over 
them  ? Have  you  a right  to  torture  them  when  they 
are  guilty  of  no  faults  ? Have  you  a right  to  kill 
them  for  your  diverfion  ? Is  your  pow'er  circum- 
fcribed  by  no  bounds,  and  are  there  particular  be- 
ings who  bring  into  the  world  all  the  rights  which 
you  yourfelf  can  pretend  to,  but  have  fo  entirely 
loft  them  by  being  tranfported  into  another  country, 
as  to  be  beyond  the  protedtion  ^both  of  nature  and 
of  nature’s  God  ? 

Surely,  fir,  unlefs  I am  deceived  in  you,  you  are 
a man  both  of  honour  and  humanity.  You  ftart  at 
the  idea  of  wanton  and  unprovoked  barbarity.  You- 
would  not  murther  a Have  to  fliew  your  dexterity, 
nor  maim  him  to  prove  your  ftrength  ; you  would 
not  dafli  an  infant  upon  the  ground  to  feed  your 
dogs,  even  tho’  he  was  black;  nor  would  you  rip 
up  the  belly  of  his  mother  while  fhe  was  fuckling 
him,  to  improve  your  fkill  in  anatomy.  You  nei- 
ther would,  nor  dare  you  commit  adtions  like  thefe  ; 
you  feel  that  you  have  no  right  to  do  them  ; or,  if 
you  have,  that  every  other  man  has  an  equal  and 
fuperiour  right  to  deftroy  you  like  a beaft  cf  prey. 
What  then  are  your  rights  ? I anticipate  your  an- 
fwer  : You  will  feed  and  cloath  your  negroes,  you 
will  treat  them  with  humanity  and  tendernefs,  and 
then  you  have  a right  to  moderate  advantage  from 
their  labors.  All  this,  fir,  is  well ; and  could  I con- 
ceive 


C ] 

ceive  tHat  you  ever  had  adted  in  another  manner,  I 
Ihoald  never  have  troubled  you  with  this  tedious 
letter.  While  your  negroes  choofe  to  flay  with 
you  upon  thefe  terms,  this  is  a fair  and  equitable 
compact.  But  what  if  they  fhould  choofe  to  leave 
you,  will  you  let  them  go  ? If  you  do,  you  are  a 
man  of  honor,  fenfe,  and  humanity ; but  I fear  no 
Weil  Indian. 

Are  there  no  whips,  no  gibbets,  no  punilhments 
more  dreadful  than  death  itfelf  for  contumacious 
Haves  ? And  what  is  this  but  claiming  the  deteila- 
ble  power  I have  mentioned  above,  that  of  making 
other  beings  miferable,  for  your  intereil  or  amufe- 
ment  ? Who,  iir,  gave  you  a title  to  their  labours, 
or  a right  to  confine  them  to  loathfome  drudgery  ? 
And  if  you  have  no  right  to  this,  what  are  the  pu- 
nilhments you  pretend  to  infiidl  but  fo  many  addi- 
tional outrages?  Has  a robber  a claim  upon  your 
life  becauf(6  you  withhold  your  property  ; or  a ra- 
vilher  a right  to  a woman’s  blood  becaufe  Ihe  de- 
fends her  challity  ? Either  then  prove  your  right  to 
their  labours,  or  acknowledge  that  the  pur.ilhments 
infiidled  upon  fugitive  Haves  are  a flagitious  infult 
upon  juftice,  humanity  and  common  fenfe. 

Permit  me,  here,  to  examine  for  a moment  the 
nature  of  the  title  by  which  you  claim  an  irredeem- 
able property  in  the  labours  of  your  fellow  crea- 
tures.— A wretch,  devoid  of  compaflion  and  under- 
ftanding,  who  calls  himfelf  a king  of  fome  part  of 
Africa,  which  fullers  the  calamity  of  being  fre- 
quented by  the  Europeans,  feizes  his  innocent  fub- 
jedls,  or  engages  in  an  unneceflary  war  to  furnifh 
himfelf  with  prifoners ; thele  are  loaded  with  chains, 
torn  from  all  their  comforts  and  conncdlions,  and 
driven  (like  bealls  to  the  Haughter  houfe)  down  to 
the  fea  fhore,  where  the  mild  fubjeds  of  a ChriHian 

government 


C 13  ] 

government  and  a religious  king  are  waiting  to  a- 
gree  for  the  purchafe,  and  to  tranfport  them  to  A- 
mcrica.  They  are  then  ihruft  by  hundreds  into  the 
infectious  hold  of  a fliip,  in  which  the  greateft  part 
frequently  perifiies  by  difeafe,  while  the  reft  are  re- 
ferved  to  experience  the  candor  and  humanity  of  A- 
merican  patriots— If  you  have  never  yet  conftdered 
it,  paufe  here  for  a moment,  and  endeavour  to  im- 
prefs  upon  your  mind  the  feelings  of  a being  full  as 
ienfible,  and  perhaps  more  innocent  than  you  or  I, 
which  is  thus  torn  in  an  inftant  from  every  thing 
that  makes  life  agreeable  ; from  country,  friends 
and  parents ; from  the  intercourfe  of  mutual  aftedtion 
with  confort,  lover,  or  child;  which,  pofleft  of  feelings 
more  exquifite  than  European  hearts  can  conceive, 
is  feparated  for  ever  from  all  it  loves  ; that,  reduced 
to  a depth  of  mifery,  which,  even  in  the  midft  of 
freedom  and  affluence,  would  be  fufficient  to  over- 
whelm the  moft  hardened  difpofition,  inftead  of 
friends  and  comforters,  and  obfequious  attendants, 
fees  itfclf  furrounded  with  unrelenting  perfecutors 
and  unpitying  enemies ; wretches,  who  by  long  in- 
tercourfe with  mifery,  arc  grown  callous  to  its  ago- 
nies ; who  anfwer  tears  with  taunts,  and  complaints 
with  torture  ! I ftiudder  at  the  horrors  which  I de- 
feribe,  and  blufti  to  be  a human  creature  ! Yet  thefe 
are  not  the  colours  of  defeription,  but  a recital  of 
fadts  lefs  ftrong  than  the  reality.  Can  any  man  re- 
fledt  upon  thefe  things,  without  unutterable  remorle. 
Can  he  know  that,  perhaps,  while  he  is  wallowing 
in  luxury  and  fenfuality,  there  are  beings  whofe  ex- 
iftence  he  has  embittered,  mothers  fhrieking  for 
their  children,  and  children  periftiing  for  want  of 
their  mothers  care  ; wretches  who  are  frantic  with 
rage,  ftiame  and  defperation,  or  pining  in  all  the 
agonies  of  flow  and  painful  death,  who  might  have 

been 


[ 14  ] 

been  at  peace  if  he  had  never  exifted  ? Can  aiiy 
man  know  this  and  hope  for  mercy,  either  from  his 
fellow  creatures  or  his  God  - 

After  the  arrival  of  the  furviving  wretches  in  Ame- 
rica, you  well  know  in  what  manner  they  arc  tranf- 
ferred  to  their  confeientious  mafters— -how  they  are 
brought  to  the  market,  naked,  weeping,  and  in 
chains—how  one  man  dares  to  examine  his  feliow 
creatures  as  he  would  do  beads,  and  bargain  for  their 
perfons — how  all  the  mod  facred  duties,  adediions, 
and  feelings  of  the  human  heart,  are  violated  and 
infulted;  and  thus  you  dare  to  call  youiTclves  the 
maders  of  wretches  whom  you  have  acquired  by 
fraud,  and  retain  by  violence  !— While  I am  tracing 
this  pradtife,  which  you  and  every  man  who  has 
been  in  the  idands  or  the  fonthern  colonies  of  Ame- 
rica, knows  to  be  true,  my  adonidiment  exceeds 
even  my  horror,  to  find  it  podible  that  any  one 
Ihould  ferioudy  doubt  whether  an  equitable  title  to 
hold  human  beings  in  bondage  can  be  thus  acquired. 

With  what  face,  fir,  can  he  who  has  never  re- 
fpedfed  the  rights  of  nature  in  another,  pretend  to 
claim  them  in  his  own  favour  ? How  dare  the  in- 
habitants of  the  fouthern  colonies  fpeak  of  privileges 
and  judice  ? Is  money  of  fo  much  more  importance 
than  life  ? Or  have  the  Americans  diared  the  difpen- 
fing  power  of  St.  Peter's  fuccedbrs,  to  excufe  their 
own  obfervance  of  thofe  rules  which  they  impofc 
on  others  ? If  there  be  an  objedt  truly  ridiculous  in 
nature,  it  is  an  American  patriot,  figning  refolutions 
of  independency  with  the  one  hand,  and  with  the 
other  brandidling  a whip  over  his  affrighted  ilaves. 

If  men  would  be  confident,  they  mud  admit  all 
the  confcquences  of  their  own  principles;  and  you 
and  your  countrymen  are  reduced  to  the  dilemma 
of  either  acknowledging  the  rights  of  your  negroes, 

or 


r *5  ] 

or  of  furrcnderln^  your  own.— -If  there  be  certain  na- 
tural and  univerfal  rights,  as  the  declarations  of  your 
Congrefs  fo  repeatedly  affirm,  I wonder  how  the  un- 
fortunate Africans  have  incurred  their  forfeiture. 

Is  it  the  antiouiry,  or  the  virtues,  or  the  great  qua- 
lifies of  the  Engliffi  Americans,  which  confiitutes 
the  difference,  and  entitles  them  to  rights  from 
which  they  totally  exclude  more  than  a fourth  part 
of  the  fpecies  ?---Or  do  you  choofe  to  make  ufe  of 
that  argument,  which  the  great  Montefquieu  has 
thrown  out  as  the  fevereil  ridicule,  that  they  are 
black  and  you  white ; that  you  have  lank,  long 
hair,  while  theirs  is  Ihort  and  woolly  ? 

The  more  attentively  you  confider  this  fubjedt, 
the  more  clearly  you  will  perceive,  that  every  plea, 
which  can  be  advanced  upon  it,  is  the  plea  of  inrer- 
ed  and  tyranny,  combating  humanity  and  truth. 
You  cannot  hide  from  yourfelf,  that  every  title  you 
can  alledge,  muft  be  a title  founded  upon  fraud  or 
violence,  and  fupported  by  open  and  avowed  in- 
jnftice.  Can  any  thing  be  clearer,  than  that  a maa 
who  is  born  free  can  never  forfeit  his  inheritance  by 
buffering  oppreffion  ; and  that  it  is  a contradidtion 
to  urge  a purchafe  of  what  no  one  has  a right  to  fell  ? 
Nor  does  it  make  any  difference,  whether  the  un- 
fortunate vidfim  pafs  from  one  to  another,  or  from 
one  to  a thoufand  mafters,  any  more  than  whether  a 
nation  be  enflaved  by  a fird  or  by  an  hundredth  ty- 
rant. There  can  be  no  prefeription  pleaded  againd 
truth  and  judice ; and  the  continuance  of  the  evil 
is  fo  far  from  judifying,  that  it  is  an  exaggeration 
of  the  crime.  What  would  you  fay  to  a man  in 
private  life,  who  ffiould  pretend  to  be  no  thief,  bc- 
caufe  he  only  bought  dolen  goods ; or  that  he  was 
no  villain,  becaufe  he  did  not  forge  a deed  himfelf, 
but  only  paid  another  to  do  ir,  and  enjoyed  the  e- 

datc 


[ ] 

flate  by  that  honorable  fccurity  ? Yet  this  is  literal- 
ly the  title  which  the  Americans  plead  to  the  unfor- 
tunate inhabitants  of  Africa.  You  do  not  go  to 
Africa  to  buy  or  fleal  your  negroes  ; perhaps,  be- 
caufe  you  are  too  lazy  and  luxurious ; but  you  en- 
courage an  infamous,  pirilefs  race  of  men  to  do  it 
for  you,  and  confcientioufly  receive  the  fruits  of 
their  crimes.  You  do  not,  merciful  men,  reduce 
your  fellow  creatures  to  Icrvitude  ! No,  men  of 
your  independent  fpirits,  that  have  taken  up  arms 
againft  the  government  that  had  proted:ed  and  efta-r 
blifbed  them,  rather  than  pay  a tax  o^  three  pence  ; 
that  have  laid  the  axe  to  the  root  of  all  human  au- 
thority, and  inflead  of  drinking  the  bitter  waters  of 
civil  abufes  and  prefcriptive  obedience,  have  afcend- 
ed  to  the  living  fountains  of  truth,  juftice  and  na- 
ture, would  never  make  flagitious  attempts  upon 
the  liberties  and  happinefs  of  their  brethren  ! Yes, 
gentlemen,  men  of  liberal  minds  like  yours,  ac- 
knowledge all  mankind  to  be  their  equals.  Leave 
hereditary  tyrants  and  their  flatterers  to  make  diflinc- 
tions  unknown  to  nature,  and  to  degrade  one  part 
of  the  fpecies  to  brutes,  while  they  equal  the  other 
with  gods!— You  know  that  this  is  the  greateft  of 
all  corruptions,  and  as  luch  you  detefl  it.—  What ! are 
not  all  men  naturally  equal?  And  are  not  all  civil 
diflindlions,  when  legitimate  the  permiflion  of  the 
people,  and  confequently  fubordinate  to  their  power 
and  controul  ? Did  you  not  carry  the  rights  of  men 
into  the  uncultivated  defart  and  the  howling  wilder- 
nefs  ? Not  of  Frenchmen,  nor  of  Germans,  nor  of 
Engliflimen,  but  of  men  men,  the  firft  and  fu- 
preme  diflindtion,  who,  created  for  freedom  and 
happinefs,  tranfport  to  every  foil  the  inherent  pre- 
rogatives of  their  nature. 

“ Rome  n eft  plus  dans  Rome,  elle  eft  par  tout  ou 
jejuis.  Yes, 


C 17  ] 

\ 

Yes,  gentlemen,  as  you  are  no  longer  Englifh- 
men,  1 hope  you  will  pleafe  to  be  men  ; and,  as 
fuch,  admit  the  whole  human  fpecies  to  a participa- 
tion of  your  unalienable  righrs.  You  will  not, 
therefore,  drag  a trembling  wretch  from  his  cottage 
and  his  family  ; you  will  not  tear  rue  child  from 
the  arms  of  his  frantic  mother,  that  they  may  drag 
on  a loathforne  exiftence  in  mifery  and  chains ; you 
will  not  make  depredations  upon  your  unoffending 
neighbours,  and,  after  having  fpread  defolation  o- 
ver  a fertile  country,  reduce  the  innocent  inhabitants 
to  fervitude.  To  do  this,  you  muit  be  monfters, 
worfe,  I tear,  than  the  majority  of  the  Houfe  of 
Commons  and  the  Englifh  Miniflry^.  But  you  are 
men  tremblingly  alive  to  all  the  rights  and  feelings 
of  the  kind,  and  I believe  feme  of  you  at  lead  are 
Chriftians.  Your  word  a<fl:!ons,  therefore,  the  great- 
ed  crimes  which  even  your  enemies  can  object,  are 
only  that  you  are  the  voluntary  caufes  of  all  thefe 
mifehiefs  ? —You,  you  encourage  the  Englifh  pi- 
rate to  violate  the  laws  of  faith  and  hofpitaliry,  and 
dimulate  him  to  new  excedes  by  purchaling  the 
fruits  of  his  rapine.  Your  avarice  is  the  torch  of 
treachery  and  civil  war,  which  deiolates  the  fhores 
of  Africa,  and  diakes  dedrudtion  on  half  the  majef^ 
tic  fpecies  of  man  ! 


* Should  this  doubt  appear  ah  fur  d^  the  reader  is  defir  ed  to  rememx 
her  it  ^vas  nx^ritten  in  the  year  1776. 


[ i8  J 

In  confirmation  of  ike  ckftrines  and  principles  ccntaixed  in  the 
preceding  letter.  Hhefollo=wing  extrctts  from  approved  authors, 
among  many  others  that  might  he  mentioned  are  feledied ; hy  ^ohich 
it  clearly  appear,  honjo  happy  thefe  Africans  Ih-uein  their  OHvn 
country — hhjfed  K\:ith  good  underfundings — a fertile  and  pie  a f ant 
land  j — and  honv  many  ^ajars,  and  ho^jo  much  cruelty  is  pradifed 
amongf  them,  purely  from  the  trade  vjhich  the  ojohites  carry  on 
rjjith  them, 

MA  D A N S O N,  in  his  account  of  Goree 
^ and  Senegal,  in  the  year  1754,  fays, 
“ Which  way  foever  I turned  my  eyes  on  this  plea- 
fant  fpot,  I beheld  a perfed:  image  of  pure  na- 
tiire  ; an  agreeable  folitude,  bounded  on  every 
lide  by  charming  landfcapcs,  the  rural  iituation  of 
cottages  in  the  midll  of  trees ; the  eafe  and  indo- 
lence  of  the  negroes  reclined  under  the  fhade  of 
their  fpreading  foliage  ; the  limplicity  of  their 
drefs  and  manners ; the  whole  revived  in  my 
mind  the  idea  of  our  fii  fl  parents,  and  I feemed 
to  contemplate  the  world  in'its  primitive  ftate  : 
they  are,  generally  fpcaking,  very  good-natured, 
fociable  and  obliging.  I was  not  a little  pleafed 
««  with  this  my  firft  reception  ; it  convinced  me, 
that  there  ought  to  be  a confiderable  abatement 
made  in  the  accounts  I had  read  and  heard  every 
where  of  the  favage  charadler  of  the  Africans.  I 
obferyed,  both  in  negroes  and  Moors,  great  hu- 
manity  and  fociablenefs,  which  gave  me  ftrong 
hopes,  that  I tliould  be  very  fafe  amongft  them, 
and  meet  with  the  fuccefs  I delired,  in  my  en- 
quiries  after  the  curiofities  of  the  country.’^ 
William  Bofman,  a principal  fadtor  for  the 
Dutch,  who  refided  iixteen  years  in  Guinea,  fpeak- 
ing  of  the  natives  of  that  part,  where  he  then  was, 

fays, 


r 19  ] 

fays,  They  arc  generally  a good  fort  of  people, 
“ honed:  in  their  dealings;’*  others  he  defcribes  as 
being  generally  friendly  to  Grangers,  of  a mild  con- 
verfation,  affable  and  eafy  to  be  overcome  with  rea- 
fon.”  He  adds,  That  fome  negroes,  who  have 
had  an  a greeable  education,  have  mianifeded  a 
brightnefs  of  underftanding  equal  to  any  of  us.” 
Speaking  of  the  fruitfulnefs  of  the  country,  he  fays, 
“ It  was  very  populace,  plentifully  provided  with 
“ corn,  potatoes  and  fruit,  which  grew  clofe  to  each 
other ; in  lome  places  a foot-path  is  the  only 
ground  that  is  not  covered  with  them  ; the  ne- 
groes  leaving  no  place,  which  is  thought  fertile, 
‘‘  uncultivated  ; and  imincdiarely  after  they  have 
reaped,  they  are  fur e to  fow  again.”  Other  parts 
he  defcribes,  as,  being  full  of  towns  and  villages ; 
the  foil  very  rich,  and  fo  well  cultivated  as  to 
look  like  an  entire  garden,  abounding  in  rice, 
corn,  oxen  and  poultry,  and  the  inhabitants  labo- 
‘‘  rious.” 

William  Smith,  who  was  fent  by  ^the  African 
Company  to  vlfit  their  fettlements  on  the  coaff  of 
Guinea,  in  the  year  1726,  gives'  much  the  fame  ac- 
count of  the  countryof  Delmina  and  Cape  Coife,  &c. 
for  beauty  and  goodnefs,  and  adds,  The  more  you 
‘‘  come  downward  towards  that  part,  called  Slave- 
Coaff,  the  more  delightful  and  rich  the  foil  ap- 
“ pears.”  Speaking  of  their  difpofuion,  he  fays, 
‘‘  They  were  a civil,  good  natured  people,  induftrious 
to  the  laff  degree.  It  is  eafy  to  perceive  what 
happy  memories  they  are  bleffed  with,  and  how 
great  progrefs  they  would  make  in  the  fcience, 
in  cafe  their  genius  was  cultivated  with  ffudy.”  He 
adds,  from  the  information  he  received  of  one  of 
the  Fadtors,  who  had  relided  ten  years  in  that  coun- 
try, That  the  difeerning  natives  account  it  their 

greateft 


[ 20  ] 

greatefl  unhappinefs,  that  they  were  ever  vifited 
by  the  Europeans.— -That  the  Chriftians  introdu- 
“ ced  the  traffick  of  {laves.;  and  that  before  our 
coming  they  lived  in  peace.” 

Andrew  Brue^  a principal  man  in  the  French  Fac- 
tory, in  the  account  he  gives  of  the  great  river  Se- 
negal, which  runs  many  hundred  miles  up  tbe‘coun- 
ny,  tells  his  readers,  The  farther  you  go  from  the 
fea,  the  country  on  the  river  fcems  more  fruitful 
and  well  improved.  It  abounds  in  Guinea  and 
Indian  corn,  rice,  pulfe,  tobacco,  and  indigo. 
Here  are  vaft  meadows,  which  feed  large  herds 
of  great  and  fmall  cattle;  poultry  are  numerous, 
‘‘  as  well  as  wild  fowl.”  The  fame  author,  in  his 
travels  to  the  fouth  of  the  river  Gambia,  expreffes 
his  furprize,  To  fee  the  land  fo  well  cultivated  ; 
‘‘  fcarce  a fpot  lay  unimproved  ; the  low  grounds 
divided  by  fmall  canals,  were  all  fowed  with  rice; 
the  higher  ground  planted  with  Indian  corn,  mil- 
let,  and  peafe  of  different  forts,  beef  and  mutton 
very  cheap,  as  well  as  all  other  neceffaries  of  life.” 
The  account  that  this  author  gives  of  the  difpofition 
of  the  natives,  is,  That  they  are  generally  good- 
natured  and  civil,  and  may  be  brought  to  any 
thing  by  fair  and  foft  means.”  Artus,  fpeaking 
of  the  fame  people,  fays,  They  are  a fincere,  inof- 
fenfive  people,  and  do  no  injuilice  either  to  one 
another  or  ftrangers.” 

Francis  Moor,  Fadtor  to  the  African  company 
on  the  river  Gambia,  relates,  That  when  the 
king  of  Baifalli  wants  goods,  &c,  he  fends  a mef- 
fenger  to  the  Englifh  governor  at  James’  fort,  to 
defire  he  would  fend  up  a {loop  with  a cargo  of 
goods,  which  (lays  the  author)  the  governor 
‘‘  never  fails  to  do  ; againft  the  time  the  veffel  ar- 
rives,  the  king  plunders  fome  of  his  enemies 

towns, 


[ 21  ] 

towns,  felling  the  people  for  fuch  goods  as  he 
he  wants.— -If  he  is  not  at  war  with  any  neigh- 
bouring  king,  he  falls  upon  one  of  his  own 
towns,  and  makes  bold  to  fell  his  own  miferable 
fubjefts.” 

N.  Brue,  in  his  account  of  the  trade,  &c.  writes. 
That  having  received  a quantity  of  goods,  he 
‘‘  wrote  to  the  king  of  the  country,  that  if  he  had 
a fufiicient  number  of  flaves,  he  was  ready  to 
trade  with  him.  This  Prince',  (fays  that  author) 
as  well  as  other  negro  monarchs,  has  al- 
ways  a fure  way  of  fupplying  his  deficiencies 
by  felling  his  own  fubjecAs. — The  king  had  re- 
“ courfe  to  this  method,  by  feizing  three  hundred 
of  his  own  people,  and  fent  word  to  Brue,  that 
he  bad  the  flaves  ready  to  deliver  for  the  goods.” 
The  mifery  and  bloodfhed,  confequent  of  the 
Have-trade,  is  amply  fet  forth  by  the  following  ex- 
tradts  of  two  voyages  to  the  coaft  of  Guinea  for 
flaves.  The  firfi:  in  a veffel  from  Liverpool,  taken 
verbatim  from  the  original  manufcript  of  the  fur- 
geons  journal,  viz. 

Seftro,  December  the  29th,  1724.  No  trade 
to-day,  though  many  traders  come  on  board, 
they  inform  us,  that  the  people  are  gone  to  war 
within  land,  and  will  bring  prifoners  enough  in 
two  cfr  three  days  ; in  hopes  of  which  we  fiay. 

The  30th.  No  trade  yet,  but  our  traders  came 
“ on  board  to-day,  and  informed  us,  the  people  had 
burnt  four  towns  of  their  enemies,  fo  that  to- 
“ morrow  wc  expect  flaves  off.  Another  large  fhip 
is  come  in  : yeflerday  came  in  a large  Londoner. 

‘‘  The  3111.  Fair  weather,  but  no  trade  yet ; wc 
“ fee  each  night  towns  burning;  but  we  heat 
the  Sefiro  men  are  many  of  them  killed  by  the  in* 
“ land  negroes,  fo  that  we  fear  this  war  will  be  un* 
fuccefsful.  “ The 


[ 22  ] 

The  id  January.  Lait  night  we  faw  a prodi* 
gious  fire  break  out  about  eleven  o’clock,  and 
this  morning  wq  iee  the  town  of  Seftro  burnt 
‘‘  down  to  the  ground,  (it  contained  fome  hun- 
dreds  of  houfes)  fo  that  we  find  their  enemies  are 
too  hard  for  them  at  prefent,  and  confcquently 
our  trade  fpoiled  here ; fo  that  about  feven  o’ 
clock  we  weighed  anchor,  as  did  likewife  the 
three  other  veiFels  to  proceed  lower  down.'* 

The  fecond  relation,  alfo  taken  from  the  original 
manufeript  journal  of  a perfon  of  credit,  wh^  went 
furgeon  on  the  fame  account,  in  a vefl'el  from  New- 
York  to  the  coafl  of  Guinea,  about  eighteen  years 
paft,  is  as  follows,  viz.  Being  on  the  coafl  at  a 
“ place  called  Bafalia,  the  commander  of  the  vef- 
feL  according  to  cuftom,  lent  a perfon  on  fhore 
with  a prefent  to  the  king,  acquainting  him  with 
‘‘  his  arrival,  and  letting  him  know,  they  wanted  a 
cargo  of  flaves.  The  king  promifed  to  furnifh 
them  with  flaves,  and  in  order  to  do  it,  fet  out  to 
go  to  war  againfl  his  enemies,  defigning  alfo  to 
“ furprize  fome  town,  and  take  all  the  people  pri- 
foners.  Sometime  after,  the  king  fent  them 
word,  he  had  not  yet  met  with  the  defired  fuc- 
^ cefs,  having  been  twice  repulfcd,  in  attempting  to 
‘‘  break  up  two  towns ; but  that  he  flill  hoped  to 
procure  a number  of  flaves  for  them  ; and  in 
this  defign  he  peiTilled  till  he  met  his  enemies  in 
‘‘  the  field,  where  a battle  was  fought,  which  lafled 
“ three  days,  during  which  time  the  engagement 
was  fo  bloody,  that  four  thoufand  five  hundred 
‘‘  men  were  llain  on  the  fpot.’^  The  perfon^  that 
wrote  the  account,  beheld  the  bodies  as  they  lay  on 
the  field  of  battle.  “ Think  (fays  he  in  his  jour- 
nal)  what  a pitiable  fight  it  was,  to  fee  the  wi- 
dows  weeping  over  their  lofl  hufbands,  orphans 
deploring  the  lofs  of  their  fathers,  8cc.  &c.” 


C ^3  3 

The  following  fubftance  of  an  acldrefs  or  cxpoiiu- 
lation  made  bv  a I'enfible  author,  to  the  leveral  ranks' 
of  perfons  mod  immediately  concerned  in  the  trade, 
is  now  republifhed, 

“ And  fil'd,  to  the  captains  employed  in  this 
trade.  Mod  of  you  know  the  country  of  Guinea, 
perhaps  now  by  your  means,  part  of  it  is  become  a 
dreary  uncultivated  wildernefs ; the  inhabitants  be- 
ing murdered  or  carried  away,  fo  that  there  arc  fevv 
left  to  till  the  ground;  but  you  know,  or  have 
heard,  how  populous,  how  fruitful,  how  pleafant 
it  was  a few  years  ago.  You  know  the  people  were 
not  dupid ; not  wanting  in  fenfe,  confidering  the 
few  means  of  improvement  they  enjoyed.  Neither 
did  you  find  them  favage,  treacherous,  or  unkind  to 
drangers,'  On  the  contrary,  they  were  in  mod  parts 
a fenfible  and  ingenious  people ; kind  and  friendly, 
and  generally  jud  in  their  dealings.  Such  are  the 
men  whom  you  hire  their  own  countrymen  to  tear 
away  from  this  lovely  country  ; part  by  dealth,  part 
by  force,  part  made  captives  in  thofe  wars  which 
you  raife  or  foment  on  purpofe.  You  have  feen 
them  torn  away,  children  from  their  parents,  pa- 
rents from  their  children  ; Hufbands  from  their 
wives,  wives  from  their  beloved  hufbands  ; brethren 
and  fiders  from  each  other.  You  have  dragged 
them  who  had  never  done  you  any  wrong,  perhaps 
in  chains,  from  their  native  fnore.  You  have  forced 
them  into  your  fhips,  like  an  herd  of  fwine,  * them 

who 

* T^he  follofwing  relation  is  inferted  at  the  requeji  of  the  author, 

‘‘  Tlhat  1 may  contribute  all  in  my  ponicer  towards  the  good  of 
“ mankindy  by  infpiring  any  of  its  individuals  v:ith  a fuitable  ah- 
**  horrence  for  that  deteftable  praSHce  of  trading  in  otir  fellovj  crea- 
“ turesy  and  in  fame  meafure  atone  for  my  negledi  of  duty  as  a chrif- 
tiany  in  engaging- in  a nvicked  traficy  I offer  to  their  ferious  confide- 
“ rationyfome fevj  occurrences  of  vjhich  Ivoas  an  eye  vjiitiefs.  *That 
‘‘  being  Jiruck  voith  the  nxretched  and  affediing  feene  they  may  fefler 

thai 


[ 24  ] 

who  had  fouls  immortal  as  your  own.  You  have 
flowed  them  together  as  clofe  as  ever  they  could  lie, 
without  any  regard  to  decency  or  conveniencv-r- And 
when  many  of  them  had  been  paifoned  by  foul  air, 
or  had  funk  under  various  hardfhips,  you  have 
feen  their  remains  delivered  to  the  deep,  till  the  fea 
fliould  give  up  his  dead.”  You  have  carried  the  fur- 
vivors  into  the  viieft  flavery,  never  to  end  but  with 
life  : Such  flavery  as  is  not  found  among  the  Turks 
at  A^lgiers,  no,  nor  among  the  heathens  in  America, 
May  I fpeak  plainly  to  you  ? 1 mull.  Love  con- 
flrains  me : Love  to  you,  as  well  as  thofe  you  are 
concerned  with.  Is  there  a God?  You  know  there 
is.  Is  he  a juft  God?  Then  there  mud  be  a flare 
of  retribution  ; A date  wherein  the  jull  God  will  re- 
ward every  man  according  to  his  work.  Then 
what  reward  will  he  render  to  you.  O think  be- 
times ! before  you  drop  into  eternity  : Think  how. 
He  fhall  have  judgment  without  mercy,  that 
fliewed  no  mercy.”  Are  you  a man  ? Then  you 

fkould 

that  himane  prweiphy  ^hich  is  the  nolle  and  dijiingutjhed  charac- 
terijilc  of  manl^ 

About  the  year  1749,  1 failed  fro7n  Liverpool  to  the  coaf  of  Gui- 
nea ; fo7ne  time  after  our  arri^val^  I nvas  ordered  to  go  up  the  cotmtrf 
a confderalle  difance.,  upon  halving  notice  from  one  of  the  negro  kings  ^ 
that  he  had  a parcel  of  fl^i’ves  to  difpofe  of^  I recei<ved  jny  infru5iions 
p.nd ^enfy  carrying  nmth  me  an  account  offuch  goods  <voe  had oti  board, 
to  exchange  for  the  flan:cs  nxe  intended  to  purchafe  ; upon  being  intro- 
duced, I prefented  him  ^jAth  a ffnall  cafe  of  fpirits,  a gun  aud  fame  tri- 
fles, nxhich  halving  accepted,  and  underfood  by  ati  interpreter  <i.vhat 
goods  nxe  had,  the  next  day  nxas  appointed for  ‘vie'voing  the  fa<ves  ; moe 
found  about  tnvo  hundred  confined  in  one  place.  But  here,  honv  Jhall 
I relate  the  afediiig  fight  I there  beheld,  the  flent  forronx)  ^johich  ap- 
peared if!  the  countenance  of  the  afiided father,  and  the  painful  o.n- 
guijh  of  the  tender  mother,  expecting  to  be  foremer  Jeparated from 
their  tender  ofspf'ing  ; the  difreffed  maid  wringing  her  hands  in  pre- 
fige  of  her  future  ^ueretchednefs,  and  the  general  cry  of  the  innocent, 
from  a fearful  apprehenfon  of  the  perpetual  fa<very  to  nfjhich  they 
Wire  doomed.  1 purchafccl ele^oen,  who  I condufled,  tied  two  and iwo\ 

U 


C 25  3 

fhould  have  a human  heart.  But  have  you  indeed? 
What  is  your  heart  made  of  ? Is  there  no  fuch  prin- 
ciples as  compaflion  there  ? Do  you  never  feel  ano- 
ther’s pain  ? Have  you  no  fympathy  ? No  fenfe  of 
human  woe  ? No  pity  for  the  miferable  ? When  you 
faw  the  flowing  eyes,  the  heaving  bread,  or  the 
bleeding  fides  and  tortured  limbs  of  your  fellow- 
creatures.  Was  you  a done  or  a brute  ? Did  you 
look  upon  them  with  the  eyes  of  a tyger  ? When 
you  fqueezed  the  agonizing  creatures  down  in  the 
fhip,  or  when  you  threw  their  poor  mangled  re- 
mains into  the  fea,  had  you  no  relentings  ? Did 
not  one  tear  drop  from  your  eye,  one  flgh  cfcape 
from  your  bread  ? Do  you  feel  no  relenting  now  ? 
If  you  do  not,  you  mud  go  on  till  the  meafure  of 
your  iniquities  is  full.  Then  will  the  great  God 
deal  with  you,  as  you  have  dealt  with  them,  and 
require  all  their  blood  at  your  hands.  And  at  that 
day  it  fliall  be  more  tolerable  for  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah 

to  our  Jhip.  Being  hut  a fmo.ll  ^ejfel  ( ninety  ton ) <n.'je  foon  purchafed 
our  cargOy  conJijTtng  of  one  hundred  a7id  fenjcnty  fa-ves,  <vohom  then 
mafji  reader  range  in  thy  *vie^jOy  as  they  <veere  fackled  t^vo  and  t>wo 
together^  pent  up  <vjithin  the  narrow  cojtfines  of  the  main  deck,  <vjiih 
the  complicated  difirefs  of  ficknefs,  chains  and  contempt ; deprived  of 
enjery  fond  and  jocial  tie^  and  in  a great  meafu'ce  reduced  to  a fate  of 
defperation.  We  had  not  been  a fortnight  at  fea,  before  the  fatal  con- 
feeiuence  of  this  dejpair  appeared ; they  formed  a defign  of  reco^i  rwg 
their  natural  right,  liberty,  by  raijmg  and  murdermg  e<very  man  ca 
hoard ; but  the  gcodnejs  of  the  Almighty  rendered  their  fchem'e  ahor- 
ti^oe,  and  his  mercy  fp  ared  us  to  hanje  time  to  repent ; T he  plot  <zvas 
difeo^ered ; the  ring-leader  tied  by  the  tnvo  thumbs  o<ver  the  barricado 
door,  at  fun  rife  received  a 7tumber  of  lajhes  ; in  this  ftuaticn  he  re- 
mained till fun  Jet,  expofed  to  the  infults  and  barbarity  cf  the  brutal 
cre-iv  of  bailors,  <^ith  full  lea<ve  to  exercife  their  cruelty  at  pleajure  : 
Jbhe  confequence  <vjas,  the  next  morning  the  miferable  fufferer  nx as  found 
dead,  feed f'om  the  fkoulders  to  the  nvaif,  Ihe  next  n:i£li7n  ^a:as  a 
youth,  nxho  f-om  too  frong  a feiife  of  his  mifery  refufed  ncurft.  mcnt  end 
died  dijregarded  and  unnoticed  till  the  hogs  had  fed  osi  iart  cf  his 
fajh.  ^ . • 

D 


r 26  ) 

tnorr'ab  than  for  you  : But  if  your  heart  does  relent; 
though  ill  a fmall  degree,  know  it  is  a call  from 
the  God  of  love.  And  to  day.  if  you  hear  his 
voice,  harden  not  your  heart — To-day  refolve,  God 
being  your  helper  to  efcape  for  your  life--Regard 
not  money  : All  that  a man  hath  will  he  give  for 
-his  life.  Whatever  you  lofe,  lofe  not  your  foul ; 
nothing  can  countervail  that  lofs.  Immediately 
quit  the  horrid  trade  : At  all  events  be  an  honeft 
man. 

This  equally  concerns  every  merchant  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  flave-trade.  It  is  y6u  that  induce  the 
African  villain  to  fell  his  countrymen  ; ard  in  order 
thereto,  to  deal,  rob,  murder  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren without  number : by  enabling  the  Englifli  vil- 
lain to  pay  him  for  fo  doing ; whom  you  over  pay 
for  his  execrable  labour.  It  is  your  money,  that  is  the 
fpring  of  all,  that  impowers  him  to  go  on  ; fo  that 
whatever  he  or  the  African  does  in  this  matter,  is 
all  your  aft  and  deed.  And  is  your  confcience  quite 
'reconciled  to  this?  Does  it  never  reproach  you  at 
all  ? Has  gold  entirely  blinded  your  eyes  and  flupi- 
lied  your  heart  ? Can  you  fee,  can  you  feel  no  harm 
therein  ? Is  it  doing  as  you  would  be  done  to  ? Make 
the  cafe  your  own.  Mader  (faid  a flave  at  Liver* 
pool  to  the  merchant  that  owned  him)  what  if 
fome  of  my  countrymen  were  to  come  here,  and 
take  away  my  miftrefs,  and  mafter  Tommy  and 
mafter  Billy,  and  carry  them  into  our  country 
and  make  them  Haves,  how  would  you  like  it 
His  anfwer  was  worthy  of  a man;  I will  never 
buy  a Have  more  while  I live.”  O let  his  relb- 
lution  be  yours  1 Have  no  more  any  part  in  this  de- 
tcHable  buHnefs.  InHantly  leave  it  to  thofe  unfeel- 
ing wretches,  who  laugh  at  humanity  and  com- 
pafEon.’* 


And 


C 27  ] 

And  this  equally  concerns  every  perfon  who  has 
an  eftate  in  our  American  plantations  : Yea,  all 
llave-hoklers  of  whatever  rank  and  degree ; feeing 
men-buyers  are  exactly  on  a level  with  men-ftealers. 
Indeed,  you  fay,  I pay  honeflly  for  my  goods  ; 

and  I am  not  concerned  to  know  how  they  are 

come  by.”  Nay  but  you  are  : You  are  deeply 
concerned,  to  know  that  they  are  not  Itoien  : Other- 
wife  you  are  partaker  w^ith  a thief,  and  are  not  a jot 
honefler  than  him.  But  you  know  they  are  not 
honeftly  come  by  ; You  know  they  are  procured  by 
means  nothing  near  fo  innocent  as  picking  of  pock- 
ets, houfe-breaking,  or  robbery  upon  the  highway. 
You  know^  they  are  procured  by  a deliberate  feries 
of  more  complicated  villainy  (of  fraud,  robbery  and 
murder)  than  was  ever  pradtifed  either  by  Maho- 
metans or  Pagans ; in  particular  by  murders  of  all 
kinds ; by  the  blood  of  the  innocent  poured  upon 
the  ground  like  w'ater.  Now  it  is  your  money  that 
pavs  the  merchant,  and  through  him  the  captain 
and  African  butchers.  You  therefore  are  guilty  t 
Yea  principally  guilty,  of  all  thefe  frauds,  robbe- 
ries, and  murders.  You  are  the  fpring  that  purs  ail 
the  reft  in  motion  they  would  not  ftir  a ftep  with- 
out you— “Therefore  the  blood  of  all  thefe  wretches, 
who  die  before  their  tiOie,  whether  in  their 
country  or  elfewhere,  lies  upon  your  head.  The 
blood  of  thy  brother  (for  whether  thou  wilt  believe 
it  or  no,  luch  he  is  in  the  fight  of  him  that  made 
him)  crieth  againft  thee  from  the  earth,  from  the 
fhip  and  from  the  w^aters.  O 1 whatever  it  coft,  put 
a ftop  to  its  cry,  before  it  be  too  late.  Inftantly,  ac 
any  price,  were  it  the  half  of  thy  goods,  deliver  thy- 
felf  from  blood  guiltinefs  1 Thy  hands,,  thy  bed, 
thy  furniture,  thy  houfe,  thy  land,  are  at  prefenc 
ftained  with  blood*  Surely  it  is  enough  ; accumu- 
late 


r ] 


late  no  more  guilt : Spill  no  more  the  blood  of  the 
innocent  ! Do  not  hire  another  to  fhed  blood  ! Do 
not  pay  him  for  doing  it ! Whether  thou  art  a Chrif- 
tian  or  no,  fliew  thyfelf  a man  ; be  not  more  fa- 
vage  than  a lion  or  a bear. 

Perhaps  thou  wilt  fay,  ^ I do  not  buy  any  ne- 
^ groes  ; I only  ufe  thofe  left  me  by  my  father.’ 
But  is  it  enough  to  fatisfy  your  own  confcience  ! 
Had  your  father,  have  you,  has  any  living,  a right 
to  ufe  another  as  a Have  ! It  cannot  be,  even  fetting 
REVELATION  alide.  It  cannot  be,  that  either  war 
or  contradt,^  can  give  any  man  fuch  a property  in  a- 
nother  as  he  has  in  his  fhcep  and  oxen  : Much  lels  is 
it  poffible,  that  any  child  of  man,  fhould  ever  be 
born  a flave.  Liberty  is  the  right  of  every  human 
creature,  as  foon  as  he  breathes  the  vital  air.  And 
no  human  law  can  deprive  him  of  that  right,  which 
he  derives  from  the  law  of  nature.  If  therefore  you 
have  any  regard  to  juftice,  (to  fay  nothing  of  mercy, 
nor  of  the  revealed  law  of  God)  render  unto  all  their 
due.  Give  liberty  to  whom  liberty  is  due,  that  is 
to  every  child  of  man,  to  every  partaker  of  human 
nature.  Let  none  ferve  you  but  by  his  own  adt  and 
deed,  by  his  ov;n  voluntary  choice  ; away  with 
whips,  chains,  and  all  compulfion.  Be  gentle  to- 
wards all  men.  And  fee  that  you  invariably  do  un- 
to every  one,  as  you  would  he  Ihould  do  unto  you. 


The  end. 


